Evaluation of potting mixtures for raising arecanut seedlings in polybags

摘要

In India, the annual production of arecanut is around 5.59 lakh tonnes from an area of 3.97 lakh ha with the productivity of 1409 kg per ha (for the year 2006-07, Anon., 2007). In Assam, arecanut is cultivated in about 0.71 lakh ha, with production of0.65 lakh tonnes and productivity of 915 kg per ha. Though Assam contributes significantly to the arecanut sector, the productivity is very low compared to the national average of 1.41 tonnes per ha. Among the various factors affecting productivity, planting material plays an important role. Production of vigorous seedlings is always the first step to achieve better establishment, higher production and productivity in arecanut. Raising of seedlings in polybags is found to be an effective technique forproduction of vigorous seedlings (Srinivasa Reddy et al., 2001) as they will establish very well in the field as the root system is not disturbed during planting. A study was under taken to test the feasibility of using sand along with other organic manures in different ratios as potting mixture for production of vigorous seedlings during kharif seasons of 2003-'04 and 2004-'05 at CPCRI, RC, Kahikuchi, with Kahikuchi Local variety of arecanut raised in polybags under partially shaded condition in the nursery. The experiment comprised of five treatments, viz., T_1-sand, T_2 - sand + soil + FYM (1:1:1), T_3 - sand + soil + vermicompost (1:1:1), T_4- sand + vermicompost (2:1) and T_5- sand + vermicompost (3:1) replicated thrice. Sixty polybags per treatment were arranged in three rows in a completely randomized design.